HEED this WARNING!

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
User avatar

Topic author
Bill Robinson
Posts: 302
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:24 pm
First Name: Bill
Last Name: Robinson
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '21 Depot Hack, '25 Touring Car, '26 Roadster Pickup, '27 Tudor, & another '27 Tudor
Location: Salty Bottom, ALABAMA AL
MTFCA Number: 22487
MTFCI Number: 17887
Board Member Since: 1999
Contact:

HEED this WARNING!

Post by Bill Robinson » Mon Aug 26, 2019 12:42 pm

While on the MTFCA Highland Rim Tour, I personally saw 4 T's that blew head gaskets. I was told that there were actually 7 T's that lost one. One car blew 2 because he failed to re-torque the head after a warm-up.

So, the next time you walk out to your shop, grab your torque wrench and RE-Torque the head on your engine(s). Don't gamble and don't assume.

3 minutes and you'll be done. :D

User avatar

Henry K. Lee
Posts: 5339
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:09 am
First Name: Henry
Last Name: Lee
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Many
Location: South Pittsburg, TN
MTFCA Number: 479
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: HEED this WARNING!

Post by Henry K. Lee » Mon Aug 26, 2019 1:05 pm

Bill Great Reminder.

I retorque my heads multiple times!

Have never blown one.

Hank

User avatar

RajoRacer
Posts: 4305
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:18 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Tomaso
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1919 Centerdoor, 1924 TT C-Cab Express, 1925 Racer
Location: Longbranch, WA
MTFCA Number: 14972
MTFCI Number: 15411
Board Member Since: 2001

Re: HEED this WARNING!

Post by RajoRacer » Mon Aug 26, 2019 1:28 pm

I'm in Hank's "camp" - a minimum of 3 heat/cooling cycles and I've probably installed over 100 + Model T & A heads & yet to have a failure !

User avatar

thom
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:48 pm
First Name: Tommy
Last Name: Coffey
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '21 Touring
Location: western NC

Re: HEED this WARNING!

Post by thom » Mon Aug 26, 2019 1:44 pm

I would never change a head gasket and not retorque it. Matter of fact, I think I'll go out and check mine again now. I'll clean my plugs and wipe out the New Day timer while I'm at it. Thanks for the reminder. ;)


Norman Kling
Posts: 4068
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
First Name: Norman
Last Name: Kling
Location: Alpine California

Re: HEED this WARNING!

Post by Norman Kling » Mon Aug 26, 2019 1:53 pm

The first time I changed a head gasket, 67 years ago, I didn't re-torque it, in fact I just tightened down the bolts in any order. As soon as the engine warmed up, I blew the gasket a few blocks from home. Learned that lesson and have not had one blow since.
Norm

User avatar

Dan B
Posts: 235
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:53 pm
First Name: Dan
Last Name: Blaydon
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 Touring
Location: PA

Re: HEED this WARNING!

Post by Dan B » Mon Aug 26, 2019 2:11 pm

How does one know when they blow a head gasket? And is any permanent damage caused?
1923 Touring

User avatar

Topic author
Bill Robinson
Posts: 302
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:24 pm
First Name: Bill
Last Name: Robinson
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '21 Depot Hack, '25 Touring Car, '26 Roadster Pickup, '27 Tudor, & another '27 Tudor
Location: Salty Bottom, ALABAMA AL
MTFCA Number: 22487
MTFCI Number: 17887
Board Member Since: 1999
Contact:

Re: HEED this WARNING!

Post by Bill Robinson » Mon Aug 26, 2019 2:21 pm

One of the cases that I saw was in the parking lot at the fairgrounds. A Model T was coming off the city street "just 'a 'smokin". When the driver came by me his exhaust smelled like anti-freeze. This is just one of the signs.

User avatar

Ruxstel24
Posts: 2345
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:25 am
First Name: Dave
Last Name: Hanlon
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 24 Touring car
Location: NE Ohio
MTFCA Number: 50191
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: HEED this WARNING!

Post by Ruxstel24 » Mon Aug 26, 2019 4:20 pm

Dan B wrote:
Mon Aug 26, 2019 2:11 pm
How does one know when they blow a head gasket? And is any permanent damage caused?
Usually it'll overheat or run poorly.
Unless you get a bunch of coolant in the oil for an extended period of time...no real damage.

User avatar

walber
Posts: 213
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:55 pm
First Name: Walt
Last Name: Berdan
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '18 Speedster had 25 touring and 26 coupe
Location: Bellevue, WA
MTFCA Number: 16421

Re: HEED this WARNING!

Post by walber » Mon Aug 26, 2019 4:43 pm

Any blown gasket is a message to you to check the mating surfaces to ensure they are flat. In the case of head bolts, also time to verify the bolts don't bottom out in the block before getting fully tight. I check bolt/hole individually by laying the head on the block with no gasket and making sure they tighten up to the head rather than standing a bit proud. If the surfaces are flat, the bolts don't bottom out and are properly torqued (and retorqued) there shouldn't be any blown gaskets.

User avatar

TRDxB2
Posts: 5407
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:56 pm
First Name: Frank
Last Name: Brandi
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Speedster (1919 w 1926)
Location: Moline IL
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: HEED this WARNING!

Post by TRDxB2 » Mon Aug 26, 2019 5:29 pm

Would have been nice to know what type of gaskets blew... too much to ask how they were prepped.
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger


Kerry
Posts: 1297
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 2:42 pm
First Name: Frank
Last Name: van Ekeren
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 touring, 1916 pick-up, 1924 coupe, 1926 touring, 1927 touring
Location: Rosedale Vic Australia

Re: HEED this WARNING!

Post by Kerry » Mon Aug 26, 2019 5:52 pm

A lot of variables on why a head gasket can blow, 7 are a lot in one tour! our nationals can have up to 140 T's for a weeks worth of driving and no head gasket problems.
Re-torque on the type of head, cast or aluminium, how it was done, surface condition etc, are usualy the things that contribute to a failure before you can blame the gasket it's self.

User avatar

Doug Keppler
Posts: 162
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:28 pm
First Name: Douglas
Last Name: Keppler
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Touring
Location: Fredon N.J.
MTFCA Number: 49716
Board Member Since: 2016

Re: HEED this WARNING!

Post by Doug Keppler » Mon Aug 26, 2019 8:16 pm

My engine is newly rebuilt and has maybe 25 miles on it, when I assembled it I carefully hand tightened All the bolts. While recently installing an air filter
with a bracket that bolts to one of the crankcase bolts I noticed the bolt wasnt very tight so I went around and checked every bolt on the engine and almost every one snugged up a little. So I think not only the head bolts need to be retorqued, check all the bolts, it might slow down some oil leaks also.
1924 Touring car
There's No Substitute for Proper Lubrication

User avatar

RajoRacer
Posts: 4305
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:18 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Tomaso
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1919 Centerdoor, 1924 TT C-Cab Express, 1925 Racer
Location: Longbranch, WA
MTFCA Number: 14972
MTFCI Number: 15411
Board Member Since: 2001

Re: HEED this WARNING!

Post by RajoRacer » Mon Aug 26, 2019 9:52 pm

Blue Loktite should be every Model T owners friend & in the tool kit !

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic